Additional benefits to locking in low rates now. (iStock)
As the number of coronavirus cases rises this summer, interest rates remain low. For those with steady employment who bought their home pre-pandemic, now may be the perfect time to take advantage of low rates by refinancing a home mortgage.
On the fence about securing a mortgage refinance before rates increase again? Unsure if now is the best time to refinance? Check rates available on Credible and consider this: While refinancing does come with loan costs and paperwork, there are actually multiple advantages to refinancing besides saving money on interest and lowering your monthly payment.
What are the benefits of refinancing a mortgage?
1. Expedited payoff
A homeowner refinances a $400,000 30-year mortgage at 4.5 percent to one at 3.35 percent and shaves $345 off the monthly payment. Instead of putting the savings into a savings account, the homeowner continues to pay the old mortgage payment. By using the refinance savings to pay off the home, the homeowner, in this example, reduces the term of the mortgage by seven years and five months with money in their budget they already have.
See how much you could save with a refinance today by visiting Credible.
HOW A MORTGAGE REFINANCE COULD LEAD TO $50,000 IN SAVINGS
2. Build up equity faster
Refinancing from a 30-year loan to a 15-year mortgage will substantially increase the monthly payment, which puts many homeowners off. While paying more each month isn’t fun, refinancing to a shorter loan drastically reduces the amount paid in interest over the life of the loan. For a homeowner refinancing a $400,000 mortgage from 30 years down to 15 years, the savings in interest (less closing costs) would be an eye-popping $100,000.
Refinancing to a shorter loan means you’ll build up more equity in the home at a faster rate, which is a good idea if you plan to use the home equity in future for large purchases or to eventually get into a bigger home.
PERSONAL LOAN OR HOME EQUITY LOAN: WHICH IS BETTER?
3. More predictable costs
If you took on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) when you first purchased your home, you likely did so because the low-interest rate at the beginning of the loan term was very enticing. The good news is, with rates being as low as they are now, homeowners can lock in a low rate for the entire life of their loan without worrying about interest rate increases as the markets continue to shift because of the pandemic.
MORTGAGE RATES HIT A 'SWEET SPOT'— WHY IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO REFINANCE
4. Debt consolidation
A cash-out refinance is a lesser-known type of mortgage refinance product that can help homeowners leverage existing home equity in the short term, while taking advantage of the current low-interest rates.
For example, a homeowner owes $350,000 on a 30-year mortgage for a home worth $400,000. A homeowner can refinance to a 30-year mortgage for $400,000 and receive $50,000 in cash after paying off the first loan. The 30-year term starts over and the payment may be higher, but they can now use the cash however they see fit. Many homeowners use this tactic to “borrow” against the equity in their home at a rock-bottom interest rate, and then use the cash to pay off higher interest debt on credit cards.
With most credit card interest rates being over 17 percent, consolidating debt at 3 to 4 percent is the smarter money move.
5. Dropping private mortgage insurance (PMI)
Most conventional mortgages allow homeowners to drop the PMI once they’ve reached 20 percent equity in the home, but this isn’t allowed on FHA loans. For homeowners with FHA loans, refinancing would be the only way to get rid of the monthly PMI payment.
Homeowners in areas where values are rising quickly should take advantage of refinancing to increase the amount of equity in their home. If a homeowner holds 10 percent equity on a $350,000 mortgage, but their home is now worth $400,000, they’re actually sitting on 22 percent equity, just based on current market value of home.
Refinancing the home at the new value would allow the homeowner to get a lower interest rate, but also remove the monthly PMI payment each month.Credible can help you compare offers from severalmortgage lenders at onceto find a loan estimatewith the best rates.
WHAT IS PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Is nowa good time to refinance?
Since interest rates fluctuate with the market, it’s best to lock in low-interest rates now before they go up again. This is why so many are refinancing now instead of waiting to see what shakes out with pandemic in the fall and into 2021.
Before restructuring your mortgage loan, it’s best to shop rates first to determine what you may be eligible for with your credit score. This can be done quickly and easily via a website like Credible.After shopping rates, do the homework to first estimate if any savings via refinancing offset the cost of loan fees.
THE BASICS OF NO-CLOSING COST MORTGAGE REFINANCING
Living in unprecedented times means everyone should explore every avenue possible when it comes to putting more money back in their pocket. With what lies ahead being so unknown, every dollar counts.
